Basics Eat Right to Feel More Energetic By Shereen Lehman, MS Shereen Lehman, MS, is a healthcare journalist and fact checker. She has co-authored two books for the popular Dummies Series (as Shereen Jegtvig). Learn about our editorial process Shereen Lehman, MS Reviewed by Reviewed by Mia Syn, MS, RDN on November 29, 2020 instagram Mia Syn, MS, RDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a master of science in human nutrition. She is also the host of Good Food Friday on ABC News 4. Learn about our Review Board Mia Syn, MS, RDN on November 29, 2020 Print Kirk Mastin / Getty Images Do you want to feel more energized? The foods you eat may just be the ticket to feeling perkier every day. Your brain and body need all three macronutrients—carbohydrates, fats, and protein—and getting the right amounts of these nutrients can give you energy. About half your calories should come from carbohydrates, about 30 percent from fat and about 20 percent from protein. I know various nutrition experts argue about those percentages, and you may find you prefer a diet that's lower in fat or lower in carbs, but nonetheless, you need all three macronutrients. The Macronutrients Your Body Needs Most Balance Each Meal and Snack Keep that macronutrient balance in mind by planning all of your meals and snacks. Ideally, they all should contain some amount of protein, complex carbohydrates, and fat. Better yet, choose whole foods or minimally processed foods rather than highly processed foods and products with added sugars. Start with a healthy protein source, add a fruit or vegetable (or more than one), whole grain and something with a little fat. For example, breakfast can be a slice of whole-grain toast with peanut butter and a banana. The toast and banana provide complex carbohydrates you need for energy, along with some fiber, and the peanut butter adds protein and some healthy fat. Other options: Mid-Morning Snack: Plain Greek yogurt with fresh berries and nutsLunch: Turkey sandwich with cheese on whole wheat bread with a salad on the sideDinner: A salmon filet with brown rice and asparagus. See the pattern? Each meal or snack has a complex carbohydrate, some protein, and a little fat and includes one or more fruits or vegetables. Be Consistent With Meal Times You might find that eating your meals at similar times each day helps you maintain a healthier diet and feel more energized because you don't get quite so hungry. Find a daily meal pattern that works for you. Some people prefer three larger meals per day, but maybe three smaller meals and two or three little snacks work better for you. And your meals don't all need to be the same size. Maybe you prefer a big breakfast and a smaller dinner, or maybe you like a small breakfast, a mid-morning snack, and a big lunch and a medium-sized dinner. But whatever size meals or eating pattern you choose, be sure to stay within your daily calorie needs. Be Careful With Caffeine and Alcohol Do you feel like you need to start every day with a big dose of caffeine? Based on the number of coffee shops I drive by every day, I'd say that's common. But how much caffeine is okay? Do you have to give up your morning cup (or two)? Not at all. One or two cups of coffee are fine, but if you're drinking more than that, it might be time to cut back, especially if the caffeine is making you jittery and irritable. Switch to green tea, which has less caffeine than coffee, or drink caffeine-free herbal teas in the afternoon and evening. Health Benefits and Risks of Coffee Watch your alcohol intake if you regularly enjoy adult beverages. One drink may be just fine, but even a little too much alcohol can interfere with sleep, and of course, drinking a lot of alcohol is going to lead to a hangover and a rough, sleepy morning. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to lose weight? Our nutrition guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up and get it free! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Gropper SS, Smith JL, Groff JL. "Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism." Sixth Edition. Belmont, CA. Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2013. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. "Sleep, Sleepiness, and Alcohol Use." http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-2/101-109.htm. Smolin LA, Grosvenor, MB. "Nutrition: Science and Applications." Third Edition. Wiley Publishing Company, 2013. United States Department of Agriculture and United States Department of Health and Human Services. "Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020." http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines.